An analogy may help one understand the subtle difference between own rasi, exaltation rasi and moolatrikona.

Own Rasi of a planet (e.g. Pisces of Jupiter) is like ones home. One is most natural and comfortable at home. That is exactly what a planet in own rasi is. Moolatrikona Rasi of a planet (e.g. Sagittarius of Jupiter) is like ones office. One executes ones formal job and performs ones duty at office. One is powerful and dutyminded at office. Exaltation Rasi of a planet (e.g. Cancer of Jupiter) is like a favorite party/picnic. One is excited to be at ones favorite party/picnic. So an exalted planet is like an excited person at his favorite picnic spot. Debilitation Rasi of a planet (e.g. Capricorn of Jupiter) is like ones worst party. A debilitated planet is like an unhappy person stuck at a place he hates. Jupiter is a saattwik and dharmik Brahmin. Ethery Jupiter, planet of perception, intelligence and wisdom, is most comfortable in saattwik Pisces, which is the 12th house of the natural zodiac. That is his home. However, he also has to uphold dharma. Upholding dharma is his duty. Whether he likes it or not, he has to do it. So fiery Sagittarius, 9th house in the natural zodiac, is his moolatrikona. Jupiter is like a "raaja purohit" (chief priest of a king) in Sagittarius. He has to sometimes take strong decisions to uphold dharma (like sentencing someone to death). In Pisces, he is like a peaceful Brahmin doing pooja at his home. In watery Cancer, the 4th house of the natural zodiac, Jupiter is excited to do some imaginative (watery) learning (4th house matter). In taamasik and earthy Capricorn, the 10th house of the natural zodiac, Jupiter hates doing tamasik and well-defined karma (action, 10th house matter). It is against his nature. Executing well-defined taamasik karma may be fine with taamasik planets Mars and Saturn, but Jupiter is unhappy with it. So Jupiter is debilitated in Cp. Take Mercury as another example. He is an intellectual planet and significator of communications. Intelligent communication is the most comfortable activity for him. So his home is intellectual Gemini, the 3rd house (communications) of the natural zodiac. However, intelligent debates and arguments are the formal job assigned to him. Virgo is the 6th house (arguments) of the natural zodiac and it is Mercurys moolatrikona! While saattwik and ethery Jupiter doesn't quite love the job of fiercely and fierily upholding dharma (by punishing demon king Bali in Vaamana avatara, for example), he does it with a sense of duty. But Mercury loves his official job! He loves engaging in intellectual debates. So Virgo (6th house of the natural zodiac) is not only his

moolatrikona (office), but also his exaltation sign (favorite picnic spot). Still, "intelligent communications" (Gemini) is what he is most comfortable with (home). Let us take one final example Ketu. Ketu is most comfortable with occult activity, which are shown by the 8th house. So he owns the 8th house of the natural zodiac, i.e. Scorpio. His official duty, however, is giving upaasana (meditation) and moksha (liberation), which are shown by the 12th house. So his moolatrikona is in the 12th house of the natural zodiac, i.e. Pisces.